Cleaning machine



Aug; 25, 1942. SYKES CLEANING MACHINE Filed July 1, 1939 5 Sheets- Sheet 1 A TTORNEYq-vyg Aug. 25, 1942.

SYKES CLEANING MACHI NE Filed July 1, 1935 5 Shee cs-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ,5

Aug. 25, 1942,

R. M. SYKES CLEANING MACHINE Filed July 1, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY. PM

Filed July 1 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY. PM

Aug. 25, 1942. R. M. SYKES 2,293,365

CLEANING MACHINE v Filed July 1, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Z9 BY v Patented Aug. 25, 1942 CLEANING MACHINE Raymond M. Sykes, Chicago, 111., assignor to Alexander J. Duaei Application July 1, 1939, Serial No. 282,365

4 Claims.

This invention relates to pipe cleaning machines and has for its principal object the provision of a new and improved machine of this type.

It is a main object of the invention to provide a cleaning machine capable of cleaning lengths of pipes of large diameter.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cleaning machine having a plurality of independent cleaning elements each of which is independently movable into and out of engagement with the work.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of a means for maintaining pressure of engagement between the cleaning means and work, which means maintains said pressure constant in all positions to which the cleaning elements may be adjusted.

Further objects of the invention not specifically mentioned here will be apparent from the detailed description and claims which follow, reference being had to the'accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred type of machine;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the machine taken substantially along the lines 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, showing particularly the mounting and adjusting mechanism;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 4 looking into the direction of the arrows and showing the adjusting and tensioning mechanism;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the lockingzmechanism, and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary plan view of the worm and collar showing the intermeshing teeth.

Pipes such as are commonly used in pipe lines are frequently protected from corrosion and electrolysis, by thev application of one or more layers of a protective material such as tar or enamel over which a fibrous material such as asbestos or paper is wrapped. In order to secure a proper bond between the pipeand coating material it is necessary that all rust, scale and dirt be removed from the surface of the pipe and that a coat of priming material be applied to the .cleaned pipe. The present invention relates particularly to a machine for cleaning pipes and other similar cylindrical objects preparatory to applying a protective coating thereto.

In the prior art, of which I am aware, are cleaning machines consisting of a plurality of cleaning elements, such as wire brushes, which are mounted in pairs and are rotated rapidly to clean and burnish the outside surfaces of the pipe. These prior art devices are particularly adapted for cleaning small diameter pipes of not more than 2 inches diameter. Such pipes usually come in 20 foot lengths and are usually fairly true. Larger diameter pipes having diameters upward from 2 inches frequently come in 40 foot lengths which are formed by welding together two 20 foot lengths. As a result these larger diameter pipes are not always accurate, that is, the axis of the pipe may not be a straight line and the pipe may not be truly circular. The present invention provides a machine particularly adapted to clean these larger diameter pipes, although the machine is equally capable of cleaning smaller pipes.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the. machine consists of plurality independent cleaning elements, in one instance bristle wire brushes, mounted upon rotatable spindles which are carried in arms pivotably mounted uponthe frame of the machine. The cleaning elements are grouped in pairs and a driving shaft for each pair is journaled concentrically with the center of the arm upon which the element is mounted. An adjusting means is provided for rotating the arm about its pivotal axis to bring thecleaning element into and out of engagement withthe work. Counter-balancing means is provided so that the weightof the arm and cleaning element carried thereby will be counter-balanced in all positions of the'arm without placinga strain upon the adjusting mechanism.

The adjusting mechanism includes a tensioning arrangement by which pressure is maintained be,- tween the cleaning element and the work, this pressure being equal for all-positions of the cleaning element supporting arm.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, particularly Figures 1, 2 and 3, it willbe seenthat the embodimentof the machine, shown by way of example comprises, a generally rectangular frame consisting of horizontal members I and vertical members 2 joined together in any preferred manner such asby welding. The frame so formed is covered with a suitable sheeting 3 to form a boxlike housing for the moving elements of the machine.

As will be seen in Figure 1 a plurality of mounting plates 4 extend between the upper and lower horizontal side frame members and serve as mountings for suitable bearings 5 that support a main drive shaft 6 in a substantially horizontal position in the machine. The bearings 5 are mounted so as to be adjustabl to bring them into proper alignment.

Near one end of the machine and in axial alignment with the shaft 6 is a power shaft 1 which carries suitable pulleys 8 that are engaged by belt means 9 extending to a, suitable source of power, not shown, located adjacent to the machine. This source of power may conveniently be an electric motor or an internal combustion engine as desired. A suitable clutch Ill isprovided to connect with the shaft 6 to the power shaft 1, which clutch being operated by a system of levers H to engage and disengage the two shafts.

Located upon the opposite side of the machine from the shaft 6 is a shaft |2 that is journaled in bearings l3 which are mounted on the framework in the same manner as the bearings 5, the shaft |2 carrying a pulley means l4 and the shaft 6 the corresponding pulley means l5 around which pulley means a driving belt I6 is threaded. Preferably pulleys l4 and I5 are of the same diameter so that the shaft |2 will be driven by the shaft 6 at the same speed as the shaft 6.

Mounted upon the top surface of the boxlike frame structure are a plurality of mounting bosses best seen in Figures 4 and 5, which bosses are secured to cross frame members in any preferred manner such as by bolts. The bolts are preferably extended through slots, Figure 5, so as to permit limited adjustment of the boss transversely of the machine.

Each mounting boss 29 contains a cup like chamber in which is mounted a suitable low friction bearing, such as the double row ball bearing 2|, the stationary race of this bearing being held in the boss by a suitable clamping collar 22, Figure 4. The clamping collar 22 may be secured to the boss in any preferred manner such as by screws. Journaled in the movable race of the bearing 2| is a shaft 23 which carries a pulley wheel 24 that is located between the two bosses 20 and is connected to a similar pulley wheel 25 on shaft 6, Figure 1, by belts 26. Shaft 23 will therefore be rotated by the shaft 6 and if the pulleys 24 and 25 are of the same diameter, as shown in the drawings, the speed of rotation of the two shafts will be the same.

On the other side of the machine are a similar pair of bosses supporting a second shaft 23 that carries pulleys that are connected to similar pulleys upon the shaft l2, however, since the bosses, shafts and driving arrangement therefor are the same on the two sides of the' machine only one of them need be explained in detail.

As shown in the drawings, the source of power is connected to the power shaft 1, the shaft 6 and I2 are connected together and are connected to the shafts 23 by the belting, gang pulleys being used to accommodate a plurality of belts. Other driving connections may be used within the teachings of the invention, it being contemplated that in certain instances the belts shown will be replaced by gears and in other instances will be replaced by driving chains.

As will be seen in Figure 4 shaft 23 projects from the mounting boss 20 and carries a pair of bearings 21 and 21' which are spaced apart by a spacer 28. The outer races of the bearings 21 and 21 support a collar 29, the outer surface of this collar being eccentric of the axis of the shaft 23.

' of shaft 23.

The inner face of the collar 29 contains a shoulder against which the outer race of bearing 21 abuts and is held thereagainst by a plate 29 which is fastened to the collar 29 by screws. Plate 29 is provided with a suitable grease retainer that engages the spacer on shaft 23 to prevent escape of lubricant from bearing 21 along the shaft.

Disposed within the mounting boss 20 is 3, cylindrical wall 30 against the inner surface of which the outer race of the bearing 2| is fitted. A worm wheel 32 is journaled upon the outer surface of this wall 30 concentrically of the shaft 23. Worm wheel 32 is provided with teeth like projections 33 which inter-mesh between similar teeth like projections 34, Figure '7, on the collar 29, these projections serving to key the collar to the worm wheel. The hollow portion of the mounting boss 20 is closed by a suitable collar 35 which is provided with a packing material that engages the outer surfaces of the projections 33 and 34 to form a grease tight connection therebetween.

As will be seen best in Figure 5 a worm shaft 36 is Journaled in a substantially horizontal position in the upper part of the mounting boss 20 with its axis at right angles to the axis f the shaft 23. Shaft 36 carries a worm 31 which is meshed with the worm gear 32, the shaft and worm bein movable longitudinally within the mounting boss for a purpose which will presently appear.

Mounted upon the collar 29 is a generally rectangular hollow mounting arm 40 which is held on the collar by a suitable nut 4|, Figure 4, and locked with respect to the collar by plugs 42 and 43, Figure 6, that are clamped together upon the collar by a stud bolt 44.

J ournaled in suitable bearings in the outer end of the arm 40 is a shaft 45 upon which shaft a pinion gear 46 is mounted. Fixed to the shaft 23 is a pinion gear 41, and a driving chain 48 is encircled around these two gears. A cover plate 49 closes the arm 4|] so that a suitable lubricant such as oil may be placed therein. Packing means 50 surrounds the shaft 45 and serves to prevent escape of lubricant therealong, this packing means being carried upon the collar which locks the bearing assembly for shaft 45 in the arm 40.

In assembling the foregoing elements the shaft 23 is extended through a pair of bosses 20 and through grease retainers 5| carried thereby. Bearing 2| is placed over the shaft against a shoulder thereon and packed with lubricant. The spacer 2| is placed on the shaft and against bearing 2|. Clamping collar 22 is next placed to lock the bearing 2| in place, this collar having a grease retainer which engages space 2| to prevent the escape of lubricant from the bearing. Bearing 21 is placed in collar 29 and locked by ring 29 and this assembly then threaded over the shaft. Spacer 28 and bearing 21' are then placed upon the shaft 23 within collar 29. The shaft assembly 45 is placed in the arm 40 which is then placed on collar 29 and retained by nut 4| after which pinion 41 and spacer 41 are placed upon shaft 23 and locked by the pinion nut. Chain 48 is threaded around pinions 46 and 41 and tightened in the following manner.

Arm 40 is blocked against rotation and worm 32 is rotated. This rotates eccentric collar 29 with respect to the arm 49 thereby to vary the distance between the axis of shaft 45 and the axis When the desired adjustment is achieved, arm 40 is locked with respect to collar 29 by tightening stud 44, Figure 6, and the arm 40 closed by plate 49 and filled with lubricant in readiness for operation of the machine. The lubricant in the chamber in arm 40 lubricates bearings 27 and 21' and is carried by chain 48 to lubricate the bearings on shaft 45.

The left end mounting boss 20, Figure 4, carries a similar arm '46 that is mounted upon the boss in a manner identical with the foregoing, and a shaft 45 is journaled in the free end of this arm and driven in the same manner as the shaft 45. Bosses 20 are made in rights and lefts, that is, so that the arm 46 may be connected to the left end side of the boss and the arm 43 to the right end side of a similar boss as shown in Figure 4.

Shafts 55 and 45' are keyed to receive circular cleaning elements such as brushes which are held thereon by suitable means such as stud screws 52 threaded into the ends of the shafts and locked by suitable means. The diameter and widths of the cleaning element and the size of the bristles composing them will depend upon the characteristics of the work that is to be cleaned in the machine, in one instance a brush inches in diameter, 2 inches in thickness and having bristles composed of 28 gauge wire was found to be satisfactory. The use of other types of cleaning elements familiar to those skilled in the art is contemplated, the brushes being given as an example only.

When the arms by which the cleaning elements are supported are located in a vertical position, as shown in Figure 3, the line of gravitational pull through the center of gravity of the arm and cleaning element will pass through the pivotal axis of the arm and consequently there will be no torque tending to rotate the arm about its pivot. The arm may be moved out of this vertical position by rotating the worm shaft 36 by means of a suitable crank 55, thereby to rotate the worm wheel 32 and with it the collar 29 and arm secured thereto. ward a horizontal position, that is, a position at As the arm is moved toright angles to that which is shown in Figure 3, the line of gravitational pull through the center of gravity of the arm and cleaning element moves away from the pivotal axis of the arm and consequently gravity sets up a torque tending to rotate the arm. In order that the arm may be counter-balanced in all positions there is provided a counter-balance consisting of a suitable weighted arm 55 that is mounted upon a lay shaft 5'] that is journaled in suitable bearings inside of the boxlike frame structure. Shaft 57 carries a pulley wheel 58 around which is threaded a cable 59 that extends up through the upper face of the frame work and-around a groove in the arm 4:], Figures 3 and 4. The end of the cable is securely fastened to the arm. The pulley 65 formed by the groove in the arm has the same diameter as the counter-balancing pulley 53. When the arm 33 is in a vertical position, Figure 3, weighted arm 56 is likewise in a Vertical position. As the arm 40 is moved clockwise towards a horizontal position weighted arm 55 is moved counter-clockwise towards a horizontal position. By this arrangement and by suitable adjustment of the moment arm of the weighted arm 55 the weight of the arm 40 and the cleaning element carried thereby can be exactly counter-balanced in all positions of the arm.

In order to provide for a certain amount of pressure of engagement between the cleaning element and the work, and to maintain that pressure constant in all positions of the cleaning element, shaft 36, Figure 5, is fitted with a collar against which a coil spring BI is abutted. Surrounding the shaft 35 is a bracket 62 against which the opposite end of the coil spring 6| presses. An adjusting screw 53 is threaded through the bracket 62 and extended out of the casing 64 that is attached to the boss 20, and is held in the casing by a suitable collar 65. Bracket 62 is provided with a foot 66 which engages the side walls of the casing 54 to prevent rotation of the bracket.

The outer end of the adjusting screw 63 is equipped with a head which may be engaged by wrench 55 to rotate the screw to move the bracket 62 to the right or left thereby to increase or decrease the tension in spring 6|. By this arrangement spring 6| places upon the shaft 36 a tension tending to move it and the worm 31 to the right, the limit position of this movement being shown in Figure 5. When the shaft 35 is rotated to move the cleaning elements into engagement with the work as the bristles of the cleaning brushes are bent by their engagement with the work there will be set up a force tending to rotate the arm in such a direction to move it away from the work. This force will cause the worm wheel 32 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction and to act as a pinion to move the worm 31 as a rack to the left against the tension of spring 5|. When in correct adjustment with the cleaning element in engagement with the pipe the worm 31 will be disposed substantially in the middle of the chamber in which it is held so as to have limited movement longitudinally in both directions, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Operation In the operation of the device the foregoing cleaning machine is located adjacent to a propelling machine that is arranged to rotate the pipe and simultaneously advance it longitudinal- 1y. The propelling mechanism may conveniently be of the type shown in the Patent 2,048,557 issued to Mickelson and Duaei on July 21, 1936. As the pipe is extruded from the propelling mechanism it is extended over the cleaning machine in substantially the position in which the pipe 78 is shown in Figure 3. One pair of arms are located upon one side of the pipe and the other pair on the other side so that as the arms are adjusted to bring the cleaning elements in engagement with the pipe the lines of engagement will be upon opposite sides of the pipe and near a horizontal diameter through the pipe. As shown in Figure 3 the point of engagement is slightly below the horizontal diameter of the pipe.

The arms are adjusted by turning the worm shaft 35 to bring the bristles of the brushes into ongagement with the pipe with sufficient pressure to move the worm wheel 3? from the position in which it is shown in Figure 5 into a position substantially midway in the chamber surrounding the worm wheel. The driving mechanism of the cleaning machine is operated to revolve the brushes so that as the. pipe is revolved and simultaneously moved longitudinal the lines of I engagement of the brushes with the pipe will move in spiral paths around the surface of the pipe.

As will be well understood by those skilled in the art, after the pipe passes through the cleaning machine it engages a suitable support that is adapted to permit the pipe to move away from the cleaning machine. Since any one of a number of arrangements may be used for this purpose, such as for example the pipe guide shown in the co-pending application of Mickelson and Duaei, S. N. 165,646 filed March 22, 1939, and since the pipe supporting means forms no part of the present invention, it has been omitted from the drawings to avoid an unnecessary complication thereof.

If the pipe being cleaned is perfectly true both as to straight line axis and circular circumference the cleaning arms remain stationary during the operation of the machine. If, however, the pipe wobbles as it moves out of the propelling mechanism the counter-balanced arms will rotate upon their pivots to follow the pipe as it moves away from the cleaning element and to back away from the pipe as it moves towards the cleaning element, each arm moving independently of the others so that the tension between the cleaning element carried by that arm and the work will be substantially constant and will depend upon the tension built up in the spring 6 I By'this arrangement the tension can be maintained just sufficient to properly remove dirt, scale and rust from the surface of the pipe and consequent wear and tear upon the cleaning elements is minimized and the amount of power required to drive the machine is maintained at aminimum.

As will be seen in Figure 3 the rotating cleaning elements are encased in suitable protective hoods II that are mounted upon a projecting portion of the arms by brackets 12, Figure 1. These guards serve the dual purpose of guarding the brushes to prevent a workman from accidently coming in contact with them and to prevent the brushes from throwing the material removed from the pipe. As will be seen in Figure 3 the housing of the machine is provided with a trough like member 13 that is located directly beneath the pipe and into which the majority of the material removed from the pipe will fall.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the cleaning machine of my invention is possessed of many advantages. It is of relatively simple construction and can be made rugged enough to withstand the hard usage it is subjected to without undue cost. It is very flexible in that it may readily be adjusted to accommodate 3111f sizes of pipe from a maximum to a minimum. It is economical to operate since the wear and tear upon the most fragile parts of the machine, that is upon the cleaning elements, is minimized by adjustment. All working parts of the machine are fully encased and where necessary are run in a bath of oil or other lubricant so that the life of the machine will be lengthened.

Throughout the description I have referred to the work that is to be cleaned as pipe, however, it will be understood that the machine of my invention and modifications and adaptations thereof which may be built within the teachings of the invention may be put to other uses.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention what I consider new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims. What is claimed is:

1. In a cleaning machine having a frame, a boss mounted upon said frame, a shaft extending through said boss, a bearing in said boss supporting said shaft, a worm wheel supported in said boss concentrically of said shaft for rotation therearound, a worm engaged with said worm wheel, an eccentric collar surrounding said shaft, bearings engaging said collar and shaft for supporting the collar upon the shaft, means connecting said collar to said worm wheel, an arm mounted upon said collar, a shaft rotatably supported in said arm, pinions upon said shafts, a driving chain encircling said pinions, said worm and worm wheel being operable to move said collar with respect to said arm to tighten said chain and means for locking said arm with respect to said collar to cause movement of the worm wheel to rotate said arm around the axis of said first shaft.

2. In a cleaning machine having a frame, a boss mounted upon said frame, a shaft extending through said boss, a bearing in said boss supporting said shaft, a worm wheel, means in said boss for supporting said worm wheel concentrically around said shaft for rotation therearound, a worm engaging said worm wheel, a worm shaft upon which said worm is fixed, bearings in said boss supporting said worm shaft therein, said bearings permitting both rotary and longitudinal movements of said worm shaft, a collar upon said worm shaft, a spring engaging said collar, means in said boss for tensioning said spring to urge said worm and shaft to move longitudinally, a collar surrounding said first shaft, means fixing said collar to said worm, an arm fixed upon said collar, and means for rotating said worm shaft and through it the worm and collar to set said arm in a desired position, said longitudinal movement of said worm shaft permitting limited movement of said arm from said set position under the control of said spring means.

3. In combination, a boss, an arm, means for pivotally mounting said arm upon said boss, a worm gear fixed on said arm, a worm shaft, a worm fixed on said shaft and engaging said worm gear, means for mounting said worm shaft on said boss, said means permitting both longitudinal and rotary movement of the shaft, an adjusting screw mounted on said boss, a nut threaded thereon, a spring engaging said nut, and a collar fixed on said worm shaft and engaged by said spring to cause said spring to urge said worm shaft and worm longitudinally in one direction.

4. In combination, a boss, an arm, means for pivotally mounting said arm upon said boss, a worm gear fixed on said arm, a worm shaft, a worm fixed on said shaft and engaging said worm gear, means for mounting said worm shaft on said boss, said means permitting both longitudinal and rotary movement of the shaft, an adjusting screw mounted on said boss with its axis parallel to the axis of said worm shaft, a collar on said worm shaft, a spring surrounding said worm shaft and engaging said collar, and a nut threaded on said adjusting screw and engaging said spring to compress the same to move said worm longitudinally in one direction.

RAYMOND M. SYKES. 

